Radon gas is in the North Georgia mountains! Did you know that 8 out of 10 homes in North Georgia tested for radon gas have high results? First to get a better understanding of radon reduction systems lets talk a little about radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs in the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Because the pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation your home will act like a vacuum, sucking radon in through cracks and other openings. Radon can also be present in well water and can be released into the air when water is used for showering and other household uses. In most cases the radon entering your home through water is only a small risk compared with radon entering your home from the soil.
Radon is the estimated cause of tens of thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Smoking is number one. So if you smoke and your home has high radon levels your risk of lung cancer is incredibly high.
The Surgeon General and the EPA recommend testing for radon and reducing radon in homes that have high levels. Fix your home immediately if your radon level is confirmed to be 4 picocuries per liter, pCi/L, or higher. However, radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still can pose a risk, and in many cases may still be reduced.
*Note- Any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer. The lower the radon level in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.
Having a radon reduction system installed can work wonders. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%! Below we will examine the different types of radon reduction systems:
Exterior Installed Radon Reduction Systems
When a radon reduction system is installed on on the exterior of your home, the pressurized components of the radon system are located outside while the interior components are under suction. This system “sucks” the radon out from inside your home and safely dispenses it into the air outside.
Attic Installed Radon Reduction Systems
A radon reduction system installed through the attic space will hide the radon system from view and offer better protection from freezing outdoor temperatures. In most situations the attic installed radon reduction system is routed through the garage to the attic space above it. If the garage/attic option is unavailable the pipes can, in some cases, be routed through multiple closets to rise to the attic space above the home. This system just like the exterior installed one takes the radon out from inside your home and safely dispenses it into the air outside.
Passive Radon Reduction Systems
Radon resistant new construction techniques can be used to prevent radon gas entry in new construction homes. Most radon resistant designs consist of a gas permeable layer of gravel under the concrete slab, a soil gas collection pipe buried within the gravel layer, a suction pipe that extends through an interior wall, and the exhaust point above the roof of the home. A correctly installed passive radon reduction system should also include the sealing of cracks in the concrete foundation. The passive radon systems work by creating a vacuum through natural stack effect in the suction pipes and can be converted to active radon systems by installing a radon vent fan.
Radon Mitigation For Crawlspaces
Crawlspaces can be a major radon entry point. Radon gas can enter the areas above crawlspaces and through the floorboards. To properly prevent this radon entry a crawlspace should be sealed using a durable vapor barrier that is air tight. When combined with a radon reduction system it will stop radon gas, plus reduce odors and make your crawlspace a cleaner area for storing items
C&H Construction is a licensed general contractor and Custom Home builder located in Blairsville, Union County Georgia serving Towns County Georgia, Fannin County Georgia, Gilmer County Georgia and the North Georgia Mountains.